Finally summer is here! Whether you’re looking forward to hitting the beach or sitting by the pool (or both), it’s important to remember that you don’t get a vacation from taking care of your oral health.
While summer is a time for relaxation and “cutting loose” so to speak, don’t neglect your mouth and teeth. Here are 5 tips that will help you have fun in the sun, while keeping your mouth and teeth healthy all summer long.
Use your hands not your teeth.
Your teeth aren’t tools. Often, people come into our office with a chipped or broken tooth because they’ve decided to use their teeth in order to open bottles, wrappers, bags, etc.
While using your teeth can sometimes seem like a quick and easy way to get the job done, it can also do a significant amount of damage if something goes wrong. Your teeth are for chewing food; don’t use them for anything else!
Cut down on dental injuries with a mouthguard.
There is a reason that almost all professional athletes use mouthguards; they help to prevent serious, costly injuries. Whether you are playing frisbee on the beach or enjoying a game of volleyball in the pool, a high-quality, custom-fit mouthguard is always a smart decision.
While buying a mouthguard over the counter is better than nothing, many dentists can fit you with a mouthguard that is just right for you, which will give you more protection during those competitive summer sporting events.
Protect your lips from UV rays.
Wear plenty of sunscreen and stay hydrated! How many times have we all heard that? It’s great advice, but it falls a little short because many people forget to apply SPF 15 or higher lip balm when spending time outdoors.
Our lips are susceptible to burning, which over time can cause a variety of issues including skin cancer. If you plan on spending a lot of time outside this summer, it’s very important that you take care of your lips with a quick and simple SPF 15 or higher lip balm application.
Go easy on the sweets.
It’s easy to overindulge when you’re relaxing during the summer. Before you know it, you reach to the bottom of the Snickers bag and realize that you’ve eaten every last one of them!
While it can be challenging to satisfy your sweet tooth during the summer months, remember this: everything in moderation. It is still your responsibility to keep your teeth healthy during the summer, and eating too many sweets is one way to ruin your teeth fast.
Since sugar can spell disaster for your teeth by enabling harmful bacteria to thrive in your mouth, it’s important to brush your teeth after eating sweets, and try to limit your consumption to one or two sittings, as opposed to snacking constantly throughout the day.
Stick to your oral hygiene routine.
During the summer when the kids are out of school, it’s typical for your routine to fall to the wayside a bit. That’s okay. Summer is a time of fun and it’s important that you indulge yourself in what summer has to offer.
That being said, one routine that you cannot afford to compromise on is your oral hygiene routine. No matter what time of year it is, brushing your teeth 2-3 times per day and flossing on a daily basis are essential for your overall health and well-being.
Bonus tip: Enjoy your summer!
Summer is fun for the whole family.
It’s a time to make memories that last a lifetime. Just don’t let one of those memories be a visit to the dentist because you broke your tooth using it as a tool to open a can!
Be smart, be careful, follow the 5 tips mentioned above, and have a great summer. If it’s time for your next dental visit, or if you are searching for a new dentist on the South Shore of Long Island in or around the West Babylon or Patchogue areas, please give our practice nearest you a call today!”
We have two locations (Babylon Dental Care at Great South Bay and Babylon Dental Care at Gateway Plaza) and would love to meet you and your family.
